Risking it with this one.. Lets talk upgrades
 

Lets talk “quick upgrades”

This is the perceived “golden ticket” to many prospective hires. And on the flip side of that is undeniably the strongest “flame bait” for contributors to the forum, and for good reason. Relatively unexperienced pilots looking to surpass the more experienced long term FO’s throughout the industry, which can seem disrespectful as the “job shoppers” do not seem willing to pay their dues, and assume they can be captains before they've even flown at any airline.

But in all fairness, I think that people are just in search of the place with the most opportunity for movement within the company, and fear being seat locked. Granted this is not the only important factor for pilots, as pay, bases, benefits, schedule and other factors all play in to the general QOL picture we are all trying to maximize.

That all being said I do not think many would disagree that between all the benefits we want to have as pilots (pay, bases, benefits, schedule, QOL, opportunity for growth, etc.), we have to pick and choose which are most important and move from their to find an operator that can accommodate. Unfortunately this will be at the expense of the other so called “luxuries” previously listed.

Not to offend anyone here, but speaking strictly in terms of upgrade time, and ability to move where is looking like the spot. I know some places like PSA, and Envoy are advertising a short upgrade, but it can take people months and months just to get through training wait times, as well as street captains being in the mix, as well as stories of very long reserve times *(This is not meant to be a PSA bashing, but just using some context)* (I am not claiming to be an expert, but these are just things I have read here)

Piedmont and Compass are also saying fast upgrade times, but usually things that seem to good to be true are, so whats really the deal here. Why don't we just throw some people a bone here and address this upgrade thing.

I don’t know if it is just me on here but it seems like the curse of options is upon many of us. Because it seems like we have the pick of the litter, it’s leaving pilots bouncing back and forth on making decisions, and often times seemingly uninformed ones.

Ready…. GO!

12 months ago I would have
recommended PSA but PDT has the better deal
Now ..We lost about 25 FOs
This month and quite a few
went over to PDT..

how long does anyone expect for this to last? It seems that as soon as somewhere is identified as a mover and shaker it seems to be too late to go there as it is already saturated.

The people I worked with CFI'ing who are at CPZ say that the fast upgrade is long gone and most of the current captains are really new (inexperienced) they are now are looking elsewhere due to the low pay and middle of the road work rules. Is anyone else hearing this?

First two misconceptions are that hitting 1000 hours PIC turbine time is your ticket out of the regionals and that regionals should be treated as a " get in, do your time, and get out" type of thing. If that really was the case, there would be no CAs at regionals with more than 1000 hours. Ask yourself this, how many CAs does your airline have with CAs over 1000 hours TPIC time.
Misconception number two is the time it took a guy to upgrade today is how long it will take a new hire today.

You have missed the boat at psa and cpz. The people who got the quick upgrade went to these places when there was talk of quick upgrades in the future but none yet. Places like pdt and Envoy have current potential. Noone can predict the future, you have to decide where you think the most potential is, and who has a contract you can live with if you miss.

sucks you got rejected by Compass now you're on a hate binge. Republic doesn't even want you. I'm making more money at CPZ and have a better QOL with CPZ then I did with 9E... so CPZ isn't bad at all. But your question isn't honest or sincere and you know it's not true. You're a true troll and I hate that I just fed you. Now you're over on the Mesa thread trolling away but even they won't want to hire someone like you. Stick with CFI'ing since you're of the gold sealed kind.

Quick upgrades is in the eye of the beholder. Quick upgrade to me back in the day was 7 years or less. Quick to someone these days with previous 121 time and 1000 121 time would be a few months after initial.

Quick (Average) upgrade will be 1-2 years after all is said and done.

compass had been calling me non stop since i submitted, I dont think im going ot call them back

you sound like an angry guy, glad I wont be sharing a cockpit with you anytime soon. my sources say otherwise.

At PDT the upgrade should stay right around a year or so for at least another year or more. It is limited of course by accumulating the 1000 121 sic first. We are adding aircraft and not retiring all that many in that time. Of course, if you have prior 121, it could mean a very short time as FO soon. If they add more than 20 aircraft (likely) the short upgrade and also short reserve times will go on awhile.

I'm super happy. You couldn't make it through training if you tried so there's no chance I'd see you on the line anyway. Attitude will ruin your career and you're right on track! Keep it up. You have no sources btw. You're a wannabe and that'll never change.

Shut this thread down already.

I have every regional in the US calling me and had a class date at republic. You should hope your company is able to trick more people soon so the airplanes keep staffed.

A newly upgraded captain w/ only 1,000 121 SIC time, and maybe just over a year of total 121 airline experience being paired up with a brand new former CFI first officer w/ 0 hours of 121 experience.

Is anybody else besides me a little uneasy with the above scenario?

Does this guy realize there is a search function on APC to pull up all threads and posts made by FAAGoldSealCFI and see right through him and his trolling ways? Idiot.

You should have seen it back a decade ago. 1500 with 250. This is a step up today.

Some of us try to avoid commuting on certain airlines due to inexperience. I won't say which ones cus I don't want to get fired. Whoops I gave it away!

Hello Sig, what was your upgrade time on F/V Northwestern? Thx.

Someone in this thread wrote something that struck a chord in my mind. What are some indicative characteristics that someone could look at to gain an accurate idea of how upgrade time at a particular airline will speed up in the near future? Asking this as a layman, btw. Thanks.

Is the airline shrinking or growing. That might be one thing to look at.

Depends on the pilot. With a name like smacfum, did you go to ATP? If so, everyone you fly with is a single pilot, and the pilot is not you.

Compass pilots have nothing to prove to you. The right people find their way through the interview, new hire class and IOE.

I don't know what your deal is and what your beef is with Compass since you're painting the company in a negative light for whatever reason - did you flunk the interview? I hear it's a walk in the park nowadays compared to the previous format. If you go back 100 pages in the Compass thread you won't find many who don't highly recommend the company as a whole, let alone talk badly about it.

Anyway....your attitude truly sucks. Please don't come to Compass.

To the OP, quick upgrades and long reserve times go hand in hand like herpes and a girl named Alexus. You can't have the cake and eat it too.

And for the love of god, do not upgrade just because it's the cool thing to do. its amazing how many I fly with that are counting down the hours but can't properly talk on the radio yet. It's no joke, get some experience first instead of on the job training on the left seat with unsuspecting passengers.

Well said! To be fair, most I flown with know their limit not to upgrade yet. Just because your # is up doesn't mean you're ready to take on the responsibilities. For me, it was about my 4th year before I think I was remotely ready.

Hahaha, you don't know the first thing about me. However, judging by your but-hurt response, I'm willing to bet you were an ATP washout. What's the matter? Couldn't hack it in their program? Too many failed checkrides? That would actually make a lot of sense given the fact you work at Mesa, the bottom feeder dumpster fire of an airline. It's a good fit for people like you, who would otherwise be un-hireable at any other respectable airline.

Yea I agree with this also. You hear guys constantly talking about upgrading, and they haven't even learned how to be a good FO yet. No self awareness whatsoever.

Isn't being a good FO easy? "Yeah captain you're right, I think the fat one is really into me"

Having 20 years in the regional industry ive seen a lot of change. trying to pick a fast upgrade should be last on anyones mind as a 1500jr cfi. The amount of movment the next 10 years everyone will have quick upgrades.. Pick a regional that you will be close to home, Little to no commute, and enjoy were you fly.. A few are unstable right now XJT/Republic/Envoy.. I would wait tell things settle out there, maybe a year to see what there future truly holds.. Just my 2 cents...

LOL!!...yes, exactly!

I usually try my hardest to avoid threads like this, because there is a great deal of emotion and "my regional is better than yours" type of feelings. That said, I'll say my 2 cents.


I don't have any TPIC time and landed at Blue. We have a few people without TPIC at Blue, however, that is the exception rather than the rule. We hire for personality, community service, etc vs. flight time.

In a past life, I worked for 2 regionals and picked my regionals poorly. Here is my free advice-


1) Pick a regional that you won't mind being stuck working for. While everyone is moving out of regionals quickly, it could stop in an instant. Pick a regional based on QOL. QOL is based on (Commute, RSV rules, Pay, etc.) Do not base your choice on upgrade time. For those new to the industry, Comair was hiring a LOT of people with the promise of a quick upgrade in 2003-2005. Guess how well that worked out? There were people who lived in CVG that were still somewhat happy, because they were driving to work or sitting RSV from the couch. They were far happier than those who went to Comair for the quick upgrade and a cross country commute.

2) If you are a lifer FO, focus your time an energy on going to an LCC/ ULCC vs. chasing an upgrade at a regional. While no one wants to drop $$$ on a job fair (let alone be away from home more), it would be worth it to put a name with a face. Don't forget, that at most Major/LCC/VLCC, the recruiters remember when times weren't so good. People had 5-6 years Minimum sitting right seat in an RJ. They realize that, and doing what is best for your family is always most important.

I'll simply speak for Blue, since I'm most familiar, but I believe any Major will have a similar view. Anyone who has been at a regional and passed training will be just fine here. What we want is someone who is fun, has a good personality, has given back to the community, and someone who we can do a 5 day trip with and have a good time.

Good luck to all of you.

Someone gets it!

No joke, throw the River Visual 19 into that mix or the Expressway Visual.

Yikes.

You try so hard to point out that you're a cfi, give up. The fact that you try so hard says you're not. Most likely a management puss low on the poll.

Nope, nobody is hearing that. Nice try though. Are you trying to get a whole bunch of post on here, so when its time for your company to do something, you can post like you have exp

Please dont call them back... Nobody wants to share it with you either. Seeing as you already view us as "middle of the road", you would not be happy here. Go work for some other regional. Oh, and I doubt they have been calling you non stop. If you dont call them back or show interest, they do the same.

You seem to be a chronically indecisive person. All you do is talk **** about everyone but skywest, but yet you cant pull the trigger on that either. Here is a thought, flip a coin for it, go fly your ass off for a few years like everyone else and most of all, shut the **** up.

Please, stop feeding the FAAGoldSealCFI troll.

Unfortunately, he isn't as amusing as "InstructorDude" from FI back in the day.

Please don't come to Compass, gold seal. We don't want you here with that attitude of yours. Compass pilots are a happy bunch, you won't fit in.

Psssst....he's not really someone applying at Compass....

Very true. I was an fo for 5.5 years before I had the seniority to upgrade at xjt. Even with 4,000 sic in the erj I found it challenging when I was flying with low time guys in crap wx and all the other perks that go along with being pic. In hindsight I'm actually glad that I didn't upgrade super quick.

I didn't know following a river could be so hard........


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Luckly it must have been a different Alexus.





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